Refrigeration unit having an air channel

ABSTRACT

A refrigeration device, in particular a refrigeration/freezer combination unit, includes a housing encompassing first and second interior spaces for accommodating items to be chilled. The first and second interior spaces are joined by an air channel for establishing an air flow from the first interior space to the second interior space. At least one intermediate wall is provided in a region of the air channel for dividing the air flow into at least two partial flows.

The present invention relates to a refrigeration device, in particular a combined refrigerator/freezer, having a housing that encompasses a first and second interior space, with the first and second interior space being provided for accommodating items requiring to be chilled and joined by an air channel for establishing an air flow from the first interior space to the second.

PRIOR ART

Refrigeration devices for chilling items requiring to be chilled such as, for example, food, medicines, and/or chemicals are known in a number of embodiment variants. One such that is customary in the domestic domain is a refrigerator having a housing which has an interior space that is open towards a front side of the housing and can be closed by means of a door. A freezer section that can be closed by means of an internal flap can be provided in the interior space. Other domestic refrigerators referred to as combined refrigerators/freezers have mutually separate interior spaces as the chiller and freezer section. The individual sections can be arranged either one above the other or next to each other. The latter variant is referred to also as a “side-by-side” refrigerator.

In an embodiment variant of a side-by-side refrigerator, a chiller section is chilled with the aid of a freezer section located next to the chiller section. The refrigerator is for that purpose embodied such that air can be exchanged between the freezer section and chiller section. Inter alia an air channel is provided therefor via which air can flow from the chiller section to the freezer section. Flow turbulences can develop when that takes place, in particular when a section of the air channel is bent. The consequence is increased flow resistance, as a result of which the desired air exchange can be adversely affected.

Disclosure of the Invention

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved refrigeration device having an air channel that allows air to flow unimpeded between two interior spaces.

Said object is achieved by means of a refrigeration device as claimed in claim 1. Other advantageous embodiment variants of the invention are indicated in the dependent claims.

Inventively proposed is a refrigeration device, in particular a domestic refrigeration device, preferably a combined refrigerator/freezer, having a housing that encompasses a first and second interior space. The first and second interior space are provided for accommodating items requiring to be chilled. The first and second interior space are furthermore joined by an air channel as a result of which air is enabled to flow from the first interior space to the second. The refrigeration device is characterized in that the air channel has at least one intermediate wall in one region for dividing the air flow into at least two partial flows.

Providing one or more air-guiding elements in the air channel, particularly intermediate walls, by means of which the air flow is divided into partial flows makes it possible to suppress any turbulences or stalling and flow resistance associated therewith. The air in that way, is able to flow largely unimpeded at the desired flow speed from the first interior space into the second. The respective air-guiding element, particularly the respective intermediate wall, moreover enhances the air channel's stability, as a result of which the air channel is protected from being deformed or damaged while the refrigeration device is being produced.

Providing one or more air-guiding elements such as, for instance, air-guiding blades, air-guiding ribs, or intermediate walls and suchlike in the air channel's transitional section in which it bends or curves, in particular abruptly, from a first to a second flow-through direction causes the air flow to be squeezed or pressed into a plurality of smaller channel cross-sections in such a way that stalling and the development of turbulences associated therewith is largely obviated. One or more flow-guiding elements of such kind is/are provided particularly in the air channel's interior in a “dead-corner” region, which is to say in a region that has a “sharp” bend such as, for example, where a substantially horizontal channel section changes over to a substantially vertical channel section. For example in the case of a flat channel embodied substantially as having a rectangular cross-section the respective intermediate wall serving as a flow-guiding element is substantially parallel to said air channel's two side walls in the direction of flow.

In a preferred embodiment variant the air channel has a horizontal section, a vertical section, and a bending section. The horizontal section is therein substantially parallel to a plane defined by a floor of the housing. The vertical section is by contrast substantially vertical or perpendicular to the horizontal section. The bending section has a bent shape and joins the horizontal section to the vertical section. The at least one intermediate wall for dividing the air flow is therein located in the region of the bending section, which is to say in the transitional region between the horizontal section and the vertical section that adjoins in the direction of flow on the output side. The flow turbulences occurring substantially in that region can in that way be reliably suppressed. Particularly expedient therefor are two intermediate walls that are parallel to the air channel's side walls and divide the air flow into three partial flows.

In particular the air channel is formed by a return air-circulation channel provided between the domestic refrigeration device's interior cooling space and interior freezing space. The domestic refrigeration device's energy efficiency can be improved by ducting pre-chilled air from the interior cooling space into the interior freezing space, in particular into the region of the interior freezing space's evaporator.

In another preferred embodiment variant the first and second interior space are arranged next to each other above the housing floor. An intermediate housing wall that is perpendicular to the housing floor is thereby located between the first and second interior space. The intermediate housing wall has preferably a feed-through opening for establishing an air flow from the second into the first interior space. Air can in that way be transported back again from the second interior space into the first via a short path.

In another preferred embodiment variant the refrigeration device has a third interior space for accommodating items requiring to be chilled that is encompassed by the housing. The third interior space is located above the first interior space so that the intermediate housing wall arranged between the first and second interior space is additionally located between the second and third interior space. For example the first and third interior space can in that variant each be embodied as a chiller section and the second interior space as a freezer section, with air being enabled to circulate between the first interior space (chiller section) and second interior space (freezer section) via the above-described air channel and feed-through opening.

In another preferred embodiment variant the first interior space has a first air-channel opening and the second interior space has a second air-channel opening. The air channel is joined to the first and second air-channel opening. The first air-channel opening is located on a first rear-wall section of the first interior space and the second air-channel opening on a second rear-wall section of the second interior space. The first and second rear-wall sections extend in planes that are mutually offset in parallel perpendicular to the housing floor and perpendicular to the intermediate housing wall located between the first and second interior space. Preferably a device for heat transmission is located in the second interior space above the second air-channel opening. The heat-transmission device can in particular be an evaporator on which moisture from air flowing out of the first into the second interior space can be deposited.

As the return channel of an air-circulation path the air channel in particular joins the first to the second interior space. It therein preferably joins a region of the first interior space, particularly an interior cooling space, that is close to the floor and in particular fitted with a drawer compartment to a region close to the evaporator for the second interior space, in particular an interior freezing space.

In another preferred embodiment variant the refrigeration device has a device for producing an air flow through the air channel from the first into the second interior space. The latter device can include, for example, controllable flow flaps as well as a ventilator for establishing an air circulation between the first and second interior space in a selective manner, which is to say, for example, at predefined time instants and/or as a function of a measured temperature.

The invention and its developments are explained in more detail below with the aid of drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic of an advantageous exemplary embodiment of an inventively embodied domestic refrigeration device having three interior spaces;

FIGS. 2 and 3 show a perspective and a schematic sectional representation of a bottom region of the domestic refrigeration device shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4 to 6 show various perspective representations of an air channel of the domestic refrigeration device shown in FIG. 1, which channel is embodied according to an expedient variant of the inventive design principle;

FIG. 7 shows a schematic of an air channel advantageously modified compared with FIGS. 1 to 6; and

FIG. 8 shows a schematic of the air channel viewed from above.

Elements having the same function and operating manner are identified in FIGS. 1 to 8 by the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 is a schematic of a refrigeration device 10. Refrigeration device 10 has a substantially cuboidal housing 11 having a horizontal housing floor 12, two side walls 14 arranged perpendicular to the housing floor 12, and a housing cover 15. A fundament or base 13 for setting up refrigeration device 10 on a floor or a support can furthermore be provided on housing 11. Refrigeration device 10 furthermore has three interior spaces 21, 22, 23 that are open towards a front side of housing 11. Thermally insulated interior spaces 21, 22, 23 can be closed by means of two front doors 16, 17 mounted capable of swiveling on side walls 14.

Refrigeration device 10 is a side-by-side refrigerator in which interior spaces 21, 23 are arranged one above the other and next to interior space 22. Interior space 22 is therein a freezer section whereas interior spaces 21, 23 are each a chiller section. Located between the two chiller sections 21, 23 and freezer section 22 is an isolating intermediate housing wall 18 that is perpendicular or vertical to housing floor 12. The two chiller sections 21, 23 are mutually thermally insulated by means of a horizontal partition 19.

Bottom chiller section 21 is embodied as, for example, a drawer compartment in which a pull-out receptacle 60 for items requiring to be chilled can be mounted. Top chiller section 23 and freezer section 22 can have, for example, compartment floors for providing storage surfaces for items requiring to be chilled (not shown). Top chiller section 23 and/or freezer section 22 can additionally or alternatively optionally have drawer compartments for pull-out receptacles (not shown). Items that need to be chilled and can be stored in interior spaces 21, 22, 23 include, for example, food, medicines, and/or chemicals.

Bottom chiller section 21 can be in particular a TCD (“temperature-controlled drawer”) drawer compartment that can be kept at a low cooling temperature (just above freezing point). Chiller section 21 is for that purpose joined to freezer section 22 to enable air to be exchanged or circulate. Air is therein exchanged via a feed-through opening 48 and an air channel 50. (Cold) air can flow via a short path from freezer section 22 into chiller section 21 via feed-through opening 48 that is located in intermediate housing wall 18 or passes through intermediate housing wall 18. (Warmer) air is enabled to flow in the opposite direction from chiller section 21 into freezer section 22 with the aid of air channel 50 adjoining air-channel openings 41, 42 of chiller section 21 and freezer section 22.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show in a perspective and a schematic sectional representation a bottom region of refrigeration device 10 by means of which representation a possible embodiment of feed-through opening 48 and air-channel openings 41, 42 can be seen. FIG. 2 therein shows sections 21, 22, 23 in a condition in which openings 41, 42, 48 are freely accessible. Openings 41, 42, 48 are, though, hidden by, for example, additional internal housing or covering walls and other components of refrigeration device 10 when it is in domestic use.

The two chiller sections 21, 23, which are mutually thermally insulated by means of partition 19 (only a frame-like mount for partition 19 is shown in FIG. 2), are delimited by a vertical rear wall or a section 31, 33 of a rear wall. The two rear-wall sections 31, 33 extend in planes that are mutually offset in parallel and in each case perpendicular to housing floor 12 and intermediate housing wall 18. Rear-wall section 31 of bottom chiller section 21 is therein less far from front side of housing 11 than is rear-wall section 33 of top chiller section 23. A corresponding “stepped” course is exhibited by the rear wall that delimits freezer section 22 and has two sections 32, 34 that likewise extend perpendicular to the housing floor 12 and intermediate housing wall 18 and are mutually offset in parallel, with bottom rear-wall section 34 again being less far from the front side of housing 11 compared to top rear-wall section 32. A space in which, for example, components of a cooling unit of refrigeration device 10 such as, for instance, a condenser can be located is made available by that embodiment behind rear-wall sections 31, 34.

Air-channel opening 41 of chiller section 21 can, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, be provided in a top region of rear-wall section 31, which is to say is less far from partition 19 and less far from intermediate housing wall 18. Air-channel opening 42 of freezer section 22 can be located centrally in a bottom region of rear-wall section 32. Air-channel openings 41, 42 in that way is situated corresponding to rear-wall sections 31, 32 in planes that are mutually offset in parallel (FIG. 8). Air-channel openings 41, 42 is also arranged at different heights with reference to housing floor 12.

Both air-channel openings 41, 42 can be rectangular in cross-section, with its being possible for air-channel opening 41 provided in chiller section 21 to have a smaller cross-section than air-channel opening 42 of freezer section 22. Air-channel opening 41 can therein be embodied in the shape of a rectangular slot.

Feed-through opening 48 embodied in intermediate housing wall 18 can as shown in FIG. 2 also be for example rectangular or square in shape. In particular the air channel is embodied as a flat channel having a substantially rectangular profile in cross-section.

To selectively control the above-described circulation of air between chiller section 21 and freezer section 22, refrigeration device 10 has controllable flow flaps and/or one or more ventilators or fans. For example chiller section 21 can as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 3 have a device 45 that is located on intermediate housing wall 18 in the region of feed-through opening 48 and includes a flap of such kind and a ventilator for sucking in air from freezer section 22. Another device 46 having a flow flap can as shown in FIG. 3 be provided in chiller section 21 on rear-wall section 31 in the region of air-channel opening 41. Freezer section 22 has a freezer-compartment ventilator 47 located in a top region for sucking in air from chiller section 21 into freezer section 22 (FIG. 1).

An exchange of air between chiller section 21 and freezer section 22—which is to say the transporting of cold air into chiller section 21 and the transporting of warmer air into freezer section 22—can be performed selectively with the aid of devices 45, 46, 47. Flow flaps of devices 45, 46 are for that purpose opened and an air flow generated via ventilators 45, 47. A circulation of air between compartments 21, 22 can be generated at, for example, predefined instants and/or as a function of a temperature measured in chiller section 21 (and of a predefined temperature). A temperature sensor (not shown) can be provided in chiller section 21 for measuring the temperature.

Located in freezer section 22 between ventilator 47 and air-gap opening 42 is an evaporator 44 which as a heat transmitter extracts heat from freezer section 22 and the air located therein (FIG. 1). Locating evaporator 44 above air-channel opening 42 enables moisture in the (warmer) air coming from chiller section 21 to be deposited on evaporator 44 or its housing and possibly turn to ice there. An undesired condensing of liquid elsewhere in freezer section 22 is thereby obviated. Evaporator 44 can at selected instants be heated and the liquid removed. Top chiller section 23 also has an evaporator for removing heat (not shown).

FIG. 4 is a perspective representation and FIG. 5 a corresponding partially opened representation of air channel 50 of refrigeration device 10. The direction of air flowing through air channel 50 while refrigeration device 10 is operating is furthermore indicated in FIG. 4 by means of arrows. FIG. 6 is a perspective “rear view” of air channel 50 mounted in refrigeration device 10, and FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of air channel 50 viewed from above. Air channel 50 has a horizontal section 51 which in refrigeration device 10 is substantially parallel to a plane defined by housing floor 12 or extends slightly inclined to said plane. Air channel 50 furthermore has a vertical section 53 that is substantially perpendicular to horizontal section 51 and relatively short compared with it. The two sections 51, 53 of air channel 50 are joined via a bending section 52 that is shaped like a “half U-shaped” arc.

Horizontal section 51, which is joined to air-channel opening 41 of chiller section 21, is provided with a frame-shaped end piece 56 adjoining air-channel opening 41 (FIG. 4) and in keeping with air-channel opening 41 on the chilling-space side has a rectangular or slot-shaped cross-section. The shape of horizontal section 51 can further be seen from the schematic representation from above shown in FIG. 8. In the top view or view from above, “ribbon-shaped” horizontal section 51 is S-shaped with two smaller bends 58, 59. That shape for horizontal section 51 is predetermined by the location of air-gap openings 41, 42 embodied in rear-wall sections 31, 32 arranged mutually offset. Vertical section 53, which is joined to air-channel opening 42 of freezer section 22, is embodied having an end piece 57 as can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 6. End piece 57 includes a frame adjoining air-channel opening 42 and a “housing” that is located on the frame and by which the air coming from below, which is to say from bending section 52, is “diverted” towards air-channel opening 42. Inlet opening 41—on the chilling-space side—of vertical section 56 of air channel 50 therein has a smaller cross-sectional area than outlet opening 42—on the freezing-space side—of vertical section 57 of air channel 50.

Two vertical intermediate walls or air-guiding ribs 55 are as shown in FIG. 5 located in the region of bending section 52 of air channel 50 as air-guiding elements. A space encompassed in said region by air channel 50 is in that way divided into mutually separate intermediate spaces (see FIG. 7). An air flow produced in air channel 50 is divided into three mutually separate partial flows through that embodiment. The consequence is that any flow turbulences that may occur substantially in the region of bending section 52 as well as flow resistance associated therewith can be reliably suppressed. The air is consequently able to flow unimpeded at the desired speed from chiller section 21 into freezer section 22. Providing intermediate walls 55 moreover offers the advantage that air channel 50 in the region of the bending section 52 has more stability. Air channel 50 in said region is thereby protected from being deformed or damaged while the refrigeration device is being produced. The risk of deformation can arise in particular when insulating material surrounding air channel 50 expands into a foam.

FIG. 7 shows an alternative embodiment variant 50′ of air channel 50. Air channel 50′ is substantially the same shape as air channel 50 with a horizontal section 51, a bending section 52, and a vertical section 53 (not shown in FIG. 6). In contrast to air channel 50, a slightly downward bent section 54 connected to end piece 56 adjoins horizontal section 51.

Refrigeration device 10 explained with the aid of the figures is a possible embodiment variant. Other embodiment variants can furthermore be realized that include modifications of refrigeration device 10. Instead of the two intermediate walls 55 of air channel 50 it is conceivable, for example, to use an air channel that has a different number of intermediate walls or even just one intermediate wall. An air channel can also, for example, be embodied such that the intermediate walls extend further into a section of the air channel, in particular a horizontal and/or vertical section. An air channel can in one refrigeration device furthermore have a geometry or orientation that is different from that of air channel 50 in refrigeration device 10. An air channel can, for example, corresponding to air channel 50 have two sections each extending in one plane and joined by a bending section, with at least one of the two sections in contrast to air channel 50 not extending horizontally or vertically to a plane defined by a housing floor.

It is furthermore conceivable to embody a refrigeration device having a different number of interior spaces, with two interior spaces again being joined together by an air channel for establishing an air flow. It is also possible therein to embody the air channel at least in a partial region (in particular in the region of a bending section) as having one or more intermediate walls for dividing the air flow into partial flows for suppressing air turbulences and/or increasing mechanical stability.

According to an alternative embodiment variant it may be expedient for the two chilling spaces 21, 23 to be combined into a single interior cooling space and partition 19 to be omitted. Drawer compartment 21 can therein then be located on said common interior cooling space's floor.

It may alternatively also be expedient for the air channel to be ducted from an inlet opening in the outer wall—on the chilling-space side—of intermediate housing wall 18 to an outlet opening in the rear wall of interior freezing space 22, in particular in the vicinity of its evaporator accommodated behind the rear wall, or for the air channel to extend from an inlet opening in the rear wall of interior cooling space 21 to an outlet opening in the outer wall—on the freezing-space side—of intermediate housing wall 18.

The air channel may optionally also extend from an inlet opening in the outer wall—on the chilling-space side—of intermediate housing wall 18 to an outlet opening in the outer wall—on the freezing-space side—of intermediate housing wall 18, which is to say for the first air-channel opening and/or second air-channel opening to be provided in the intermediate housing wall between the first and second interior space. If the outer wall—facing the first interior space—of the intermediate housing wall has the first air-channel opening and the outer wall—facing the second interior space—of the intermediate housing wall has the second air-channel opening, the air channel having a transversal section, in particular a section perpendicular to the intermediate housing wall, extends therethrough.

LIST OF REFERENCES

-   10 Refrigeration device -   11 Housing -   12 Housing floor -   13 Base -   14 Side wall -   15 Housing cover -   16, 17 Door -   18 Intermediate housing wall -   19 Partition -   21 Chiller section -   22 Freezer section -   23 Chiller section -   31, 32 Rear wall -   33, 34 Rear-wall region -   35 Rear wall -   41, 42 Air-channel opening -   44 Heat transmitter/evaporator -   45 Flow flap, ventilator -   46 Flow flap -   47 Ventilator -   48 Feed-through opening -   50 Air channel -   51 Horizontal section -   52 Bending section -   53 Vertical section -   54 Bent section -   55 Intermediate wall -   56, 57 End piece -   58, 59 Bend -   60 Receptacle 

1-10. (canceled)
 11. A refrigeration device, comprising: a housing encompassing first and second interior spaces for accommodating items to be chilled, said first and second interior spaces being joined by an air channel for establishing an air flow from the first interior space to the second interior space; and at least one intermediate wall provided in a region of the air channel for dividing the air flow into at least two partial flows.
 12. The refrigeration device of claim 11, constructed in the form of a combined refrigerator/freezer,
 13. The refrigeration device of claim 11, wherein the housing includes a housing floor, and wherein the air channel has a horizontal section, a vertical section, and a bending section, with the horizontal section being substantially parallel to a plane defined by the housing floor, with the vertical section being substantially perpendicular to the horizontal section, and with the bending section having a bent shape and joining the horizontal section to the vertical section, wherein the intermediate wall is located in the region of the bending section.
 14. The refrigeration device of claim 13, wherein the first and second interior spaces are arranged next to each other above the housing floor, said housing having an intermediate housing wall extending in perpendicular relationship to the housing floor between the first and second interior spaces.
 15. The refrigeration device of claim 14, wherein the intermediate housing wall located between the first and second interior spaces has a feed-through opening for establishing an air flow from the second interior space into the first interior space.
 16. The refrigeration device of claim 15, wherein the housing has a third interior space for accommodating items requiring to be chilled, said third interior space being located above the first interior space so that the intermediate housing wall arranged between the first and second interior spaces also extends between the second and third interior spaces.
 17. The refrigeration device of claim 14, wherein the first interior space has a first air-channel opening, and wherein the second interior space has a second air-channel opening, with the air channel being joined to the first and second air-channel opening, said first air-channel opening being located on a first rear-wall section of the first interior space, and with the second air-channel opening being located on a second rear-wall section of the second interior space, wherein the first and second rear-wall sections extend in planes that are mutually offset in parallel perpendicular to the housing floor and perpendicular to the intermediate housing wall located between the first and second interior spaces.
 18. The refrigeration device of claim 17, further comprising a device located in the second interior space above the second air-channel opening for heat transmission.
 19. The refrigeration device of claim 11, further comprising a device for producing an air flow through the air channel from the first interior space into the second interior space.
 20. The refrigeration device of claim 11, wherein the first interior space is embodied as a drawer compartment for a pull-out receptacle for items requiring to be chilled.
 21. The refrigeration device of claim 11, wherein the air channel has two intermediate walls. 